Gojira @ Brooklyn Steel 9/28

When it comes to major names in metal, you will always find Gojira. Gojira (once referred to as Godzilla) has a meaty tour coming up, sharing the stage with Converge (here in Brooklyn), Pallbearer, Metallica and Avenged Sevenfold. And while it’s a massive compliment to play along with such serious names in metal, Gojira also has found a way to differentiate themselves. Yes, they are black metal, death metal, sludge metal–but they are so much more than that. The band almost doesn’t even like to be described as being metal at all. They’re rock, too. But when it comes to their sound it’s almost better to just forego any classifications and just listen. Gojira is Gojira–perhaps let’s leave it at that and just enjoy.

When Gojira first sprung into the scene it was the 90s in France. After a couple of EPs they released their first full-length in 2001 called Terra Incognita and just last year they released their sixth studio album called Magma. The concept of their albums is usually charged with specific themes that have to do with life and death, spirituality, rebirth, and they have received two Grammy nominations throughout their career–one for “Best Rock Album” and the other for “Best Metal Performance” for their song “Slivera.”

No matter what this band does, they continue to stand true to their core and refuse to sell out to the mainstream. It’s all about performing raw music that’s full of angst and passion.